Feeling foggy? The hectic pace of modern life can often leave us feeling mentally wiped out, struggling to concentrate, creatively drained and just plain uninspired. If you’re feeling that way, we have some good news for you: A recent study conducted by researchers from the Loma Linda University Adventist Health Sciences Center, published in the FASEB Journal, has determined that eating certain nuts regularly can dramatically enhance brainwave function.

Science Daily recently reported on the study, explaining its findings that upping your intake of six types of nuts, including pistachios and peanuts (actually a legume), stimulates the brainwave functions associated with learning, memory, creativity, healing and cognition.

The 13 researchers involved in the study explored the results of regular nut intake on brainwave activity by getting volunteers to increase their consumption of pistachios, peanuts, walnuts, almonds, pecans and cashews, and then measuring the strength of their brainwave signals using Electroencephalograms (EEG). Activity was recorded from nine different regions of the scalp associated with cerebral cortical function.

Previous studies had already confirmed the beneficial effects of increased nut consumption on inflammation, aging and disease, but this was one of the first studies to focus exclusively on the benefits to brain health.

“This study provides significant beneficial findings by demonstrating that nuts are as good for your brain as they are for the rest of your body,” said the study’s lead investigator, Lee Berk, associate dean for research at the LLU School of Allied Health Professions.

All the nuts that formed part of the study are high in antioxidants, with walnuts containing the highest concentrations overall. Antioxidants protect the body from damage caused by free radicals, which helps prevent cancer, blood vessel disease and other conditions.

When you consider that they are the same shape as a human brain, it’s not all that surprising that walnuts provide amazing brain health benefits. These delicious nuts are especially high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for normal brain function, and which many of us are severely lacking in.

Low omega-3 levels have been linked to cognitive degeneration and depression.

Eating a fistful of walnuts regularly then can keep the spirits up and prop up the grey cells for good measure. What is more, walnuts are known to raise melatonin levels by a whopping three times, promising relief from sleeplessness and insomnia. So if you’re tired of counting sheep at night and would appreciate a knock-out sleep instead, then consider ingesting a few walnuts as a pre-bedtime snack.

Walnuts also have excellent heart health benefits, including naturally lowering cholesterol. These nuts are also loaded with nutrients, including manganese, iron, copper, phosphorous and calcium.